Telescope



[Tirch 14, '1939.

H. F. MOSSBERG TELESCOPE V 2 Sheets-Sheet '1 Filed April 1, 1938 mmumINVENTOR HamZdf/ loaslrerg. BY

ATTORNEY March 14, 939- H F. MOSSBERG TELESCOPE Filed April 1, 1938 2Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Hamid EMosslrerp A TTORNEY M4 M9 "III ,3 I willt xi fi .l

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Patentet! Mar. 1.4, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TELESCOPEApplication April 1, 1938, Serial No. 199,326

9 Claims.

This invention relates to telescopes and more particularly toimprovements in telescopes having means associated therewith wherebythey are adapted for use with firearms for sighting purposes.

Telescopes, and especially those used with lirearms for sightingpurposes, require various adjustments to suit them for eflicient useunder varying conditions. For instance, an axial adjustment of certainof the lenses of the telescope relatively to each other and to theothers is usually required to focus the telescope to suit the physicalor focal characteristics of the eye of the individual using the same. Inaddition to such an adjustment, telescopes, when used with firearms forsighting purposes and which therefore have a reticule or other sightingmeans associated therewith, require adjustments to compensate fordeviations caused by increases or decreases in wind pressure and alsodue to differences in the length of the range, or the distance thetarget, or object, being sighted is from the muzzle of the firearm, toinsure the proper elevation and accurate subsequent operation of thefirearm when the outline or point of the reticule is superimposed uponthe target while sighting, It is also advantageous, and in manyinstances necessary, toadjust the reticule axially in respect to thelenses, or a certain lens, to bring it into sharp relief to suit thefocal characteristics of the eye of the user. The above noted andrequired adjustments have been provided for, either singly or otherwise,by the provision of various and often comparatively expensive means andwhich in many instances were inefilcient in use and inconvenient to makewithout the need of special tools.

One object of this invention is to provide an improved form of telescopeand especially one which is particularly adapted for use with firearmsfor sighting purposes.

Another object is to provide in a telescope improved means to adjustcertain of the lenses relatively to each other to suit the focalcharacteristics of the eye of the individual using the same.

Still another object is to provide in a telescope having a sightingreticule, improved means to adjust the reticule or its holder relativelyto a certain lens or lenses to suit the focal characteristics of the eyeof the user.

Further objects include: the provision in a telescope, having a sightingreticule embodied in its structure, of means to internally adjust thereticule, or its holder, to suit the requirements caused by deviationsin wind pressure; to internally adjust the reticule, or its holder, tosuit the elevation requirements of the firearm for the range; of meansadapted to audibly indicate the amount of either of such adjustments; ofmeans to visually indicate such adjustments; and of means adapted to beset at an indicating point whereby an adjustment in elevation may berapidly made to suit a determined, or estimated, length of range.

A still further object is to provide in a telescope of the above type animproved audible indicating adjusting device which is adapted to be setat a selected indicating point for rapid adjustment and then may befinely adjusted by means of either audible or visual indications.

It is also an object of this invention to provide an improved form oftelescope, and especially one adapted for use with firearms for sightingpurposes, of generally improved construction, whereby the same will besimple, durable and comparatively inexpensive in construction, as wellas convenient, practical, serviceable and very eflicient in its use.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention resides in the combination andarrangements of parts, and in the details of construction to behereinafter described and claimed.

One embodiment of this invention is illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a left hand side view of a telescope embodying theprinciples and features of this invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged top view of the eyepiece or rear end of thesame;

Figure 3 is an enlarged right hand side view of the eye or rear end ofthe same;

Figure 4 is a still further enlarged end view of the eye-piece end ofthe telescope;

Figure 5 is an enlarged front view of the telescope;

Figure 6 is a longitudinal section of the telescope shown in Figure 1and taken on line 6-6 of Figure 4;

Figure 7 is a longitudinal sectional 'view of the front end of thetelescope taken on line 1--l 0 Figure 5;

Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view of the front end and taken on line8--8 of Figure 6;

Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view of the rear end and taken on line 9-4of Figure 6;

Figure 10 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on line Ill-40 ofFigure 9;

Figure 11 is an enlarged top plan view of a ring which constitutes apart 'of the indicating device of this invention;

Figure 12 is an enlarged top plan view of a part of the audibleindicating device of this invention; Figure 13 is an enlarged side viewof a leaf spring used in the telescope of this invention; and a j Figure14 is an exploded view of the audible indicating device used in thetelescope of this invention, the parts thereof being shown inperspective.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference charactersdesignate like parts throughout the several views, the numeral llindicates the barrel of a firearm upon which the telescope of thisinvention is adapted to be mounted by means of a bracket H, secured tothe barrel II by means of screws l2. Bolts I I passing throughvertically elongated holes l4 provided in the bracket H secure bandsll-to the bracket H. The bands 15 are secured and clamped about a tube I5, which tube forms the outer'casing of the telescope of this invention,by means of screws l1. By the above means, the tube It is secured to abarrel ll of a firearm in a rigid manner. The telescope of thisinvention, and which is shown partly in section in Figure 6, includesthe usual obiective lens l3, erecting lenses II and 25, a perforateddisc 2|, a field lens 22 and an ocular lens 23. In this instance theobjective lens I8 is mounted between rings 24 and 25 in the rear end ofa holding tube 25 which time is slidably mounted in the front end of thecasing tube It. The erecting lenses l and 20, the perforated disc 2|,and the field lens 22 are permanently mounted in a holding tube 21adapted to be slid into the tube It and have the edge'of an end cap 25thereof abut against the rear end 25 of the casing l5. The tube 21 ismaintained rigidly in place in the casing 15 by having the cap 28clamped against the externally threaded rear end 29 of this casing bymeans of a ring 3|, threadingly and axially adjustable within adetachable tubular casing extension 32; The casing extension 32 isadapted to be threadingly connected to the rear end 21 of the casing. l5by means of internal threads. The ring 3i constitutes means to adjustthe erecting and field lenses i9, 20 and 2| respectively relatively tothe ocular lens 23 when the telescope is being assembled. The ocularlens 23 is held by rings 33 in an eye-piece 34 having a knurled annularhead 35 and which is threadingly received in the internally threadedrear end 35 of the casing extension 32. The eye-piece 34 is rigidlysecured to the extension 32 by tightly abutting the head 35 against therear end 35 of the casing extension 32.

In order to adjust the telescope to suit the focal characteristics ofthe eye of the user when sighting the telescope, the objective lensholding tube 25 (see Figures 6, 7 and 8) is provided with an upturnedlug 21, struck up from a tongue 38 formed by cutting parallel slots 39and 4| rearwardly from the front end of the tube 25. The

3'! extends through a longitudinal slot 42, provided in the casing 45,and rides in a spiral groove 43 formed in the interior wall of a frontend cap 44. The cap 44 is secured to the front end of the casing l5 andagainst axial'movement relatively thereto by a tongue, or tongues, 45struck from the material of the casing l5 and firmly pressed into anannular groove 45 formed in the interior wall of the cap 44 adjacent itsforward end. The casing H5 at each end of the slot 42 acts to limit theaxial sliding movement of the tube 25 in the casing l5, and the sidewalls of the slot 42 guide the tube 25 by confining the lug 31 andprevents the tube 26 from rotating relatively to the casing'l5. Due tothe cooperating action between the lug 31 and the spiral groove 43, thetube 25 and with it the objective lens l8 may be quickly and suitablyadjusted axially with respect to the other lenses and particularly tothe ocular lens 23, to properly focus them, by rotating the cap 44relatively to the casing l5. The spring action of the tongue 38 seatsthe outer end of the lug 31 against the material of cap 44 at the bottomof the groove 43 tofrictiomlly hold the parts in their adjustedpositions.

The telescope illustrated is shown provided with a sight holding member,herein illustrated as being in the mm of a cross-hair reticule (seeFigures 6, 9 and and comprising a ring 41 having cross hairs 48 securedthereto. It will be obvious that any of the forms of sights such asposts, and which are generally used for sighting purposes with firearms,may be substituted in place of the cross hairs 43. Herein the ring 41-.is shown mounted for transverse sliding movement in respect to theaxis of the telescope, both in vertical and horizontal planes, betweenparallel ends 45 and II of opposing sleeves 52 and 53 respectively. Thesleeves 52 and 53 are slidably mounted within the bore of the detachablecasing extension 32 intermediate the rear end of the lens holding tube21 holding the field lens 22 and the ocular lens 23. These sleeves areheld by means of screws 54 and 55 in ring 51 gripping position. Thescrews 54 and 55 thread into the sleeves 52 and 53 respectively bydepending respectively from. longitudinally extending arms 55 and 51 ofa bracket 58 through longitudinally elongated openings 55 and 5|respectively, which openings are formed in the wall of the extension 32.By tightening the screws 54 and 55, the sleeves 52 and 53 will betightly clamped against the interior wall of the extension 32 and byloosening these screws the sleeves 52 and 53 and with them the ring 41may be moved axially relative to the lenses and particularly to theocular lens 23 to properly focus the cross hairs 48, or other form ofsighting means, in respect thereto to suit the physical or focalcharacteristics of the eye of the user to obtain a sharp and distinctimage of the sighting means 48.

Provision is included in the telescope of this invention of meanswhereby the reticule ring 41 and with it the sight means held thereby,herein the cross hairs 48, may be delicately adjusted transverse to theaxis of the telescope in a horizontal plane to compensate for deviationsin wind pressure and for differences in the length of the range. One ofsuch adjusting means is constituted by, and includes, a threaded stud 52extending from' an inverted cylindrical cupshaped head portion 55 andthe other includes a stud 54 extending from a similar head portion 55.Each of the studs 52 and 54 is adapted to be screwed into a threadedhole 55 provided in the bore of a cylindrical cup-shaped portion 51 ofthe bracket 55. Each of the threaded studs 52 and 54 pass throughanaxially elongated opening 58 provided in the extension 32 and is adaptedto engage the periphery of the ring 41, upon a flat spot 55 formedthereon, to slide the ring between the opposing ends 49 and '5! of thesleeves 52 and 53 respectively. To constantly maintain the ring 41tightly against the res ective ends of the studs 62 and 84 a bowedspring ii is disposed diametrically opposite each of the studs 62 and 64with its intermediate bowed portion in engagement with a similarlyformed fiat spot 12 on the ring. The ends of the springs 1| reactagainst the interior wall of the extension 32. The spring ls disposedand retained in operable position in a slot 13 provided therefor andformed in each of the sleeves 52 and 53. The arrangement shown herein issuch that the cylindrical head portions 63 and 65 telescope into therespective cylindrical portion 61 provided therefor in the bracket 58.To facilitate rotating the studs 62 and 84, the head portions 63 and 65thereof are each provided with a finger gripping knurled rib 14.

In order to provide an audible indication of the adjusting rotation ofthe studs 62 and 64 by the head portions 63 and 65 respectively, thelower edge of each of the cylindrical head portions 63 and 65 aretoothed by the provision of a plurality of equally spaced apart V-shapednotches 15. A bar. 16, which has a central opening ll adapted toslidingly fit over either of the studs 62 and 64 has an arm 78 extendingfrom its central portion which arm 18 is provided with a rib 18 adaptedto enter any one of the notches 15. Another arm 8| extends from thecentral portion of each oi the bars 16 diametrically opposite from thearm 18 and is turned upwardly to lie over the top surface 82 of the headportion 83 and extend above the head portion 65 whereat the bar 16 isprovided with a pointed end 83.

, A coiled spring 84 is provided which reacts between the base 85 of theportion 81 of the bracket 58 and the underside of the bar to constantlyurge the bar upwardly against the toothed edge of the respective headportions 63 and 65 whereby an audible click or snap will be producedwhen the respective head portion is rotated relatively to the bar 18.The bar I8 is maintained against rotation relatively to the respectivehead portions 63 and 65 by having its arms 18 and 8| extend throughdiametrically disposed slots 86 and. 8? zcspectively, which are formedin the side walls of the cylindrical portions 61 of the bracket 58.

To visually indicate the amount of adjustment made by rotating the stud62 by its head portion 83, the top surface 82 of the portion 63 may beprovided with equally spaced apart indicating marks 88 to cooperate withthe pointed end 83 of the bar 16 associated therewith. To visuallyindicate the amount of adjustment made by rotating the stud 84 by itshead portion 65 this head portion is provided with a cylindrical andaxially extending boss 88 upon which a ring 8| is rotatably mounted andadapted to be clamped against the upper end of the head portion by thehead 82 of a screw 83, threadingly cooperating with the head portion 85'in a threaded hole provided therein. The ring 8| is tapered and itstapered sides are provided with indicating marks 84 spaced apart adetermined amount to enable the user to quickly adjust the sight holdingring 41 in a vertical plane to cause the sight means to be elevated tosuit the firearm to the estimated or known length of the range when thetelescopeis sighted on the target.

The spacing of the marks 84 is such that after the telescope has beenassembled, it is adJusted by the stud 84 so that the firearm will beelevated to suit a selected range, for instance oftwentyflveyardathestudfl may be quickly rotated to cause an elevation ofthe firearm adapt it or a range of, for instance, fifty, seventy-five,one hundred yards, or fractions thereof, in the following manner. Thetelescope is first sighted on a target, the length of range of which isknown, for instance twenty-five yards, by an adjustment of the stud 64.The screw 88 is loosened to release the ring 8| which is then turned tobring the zero mark thereon opposite to the pointed end 83 of therespective bar 76, and facing the user. The screw 83 is then tightenedto again clamp the ring 8|. Obviously whenever the stud 84 is rotated tomove the point 83 away from the zero mark the elevation of the sightingmeans will change to suit the firearm to the range and when the point 83is again brought back to the zero mark the sighting means will againhave the proper elevation to suit the firearm for the initially selectedrange, provided, of course, that the stud 64 has not been rotated morethan one complete revolution. Now, due to the calibrated spacing oi themarks 84, the sight holding ring 41 may be adjusted by rotating the stud84 to cause its elevation to suit the firearm for a range of say fiftyyards when the mark designated by the numeral 50 on the ring 8| isopposite the pointed end 83. The required elevation of the sightingmeans for ranges of seventy-five, one hundred, or fractions thereof maybe likewise and quickly made. It will be noted that the calibration ofthe marks 84 is such that the numbered ones (50, 75 and 100) aremultiples of the initial length of range for which the telescope isini-" tially set and that the intermediate marks 84 denote fractions orparts thereof between the same.

From the above description it is obvious that the improved telescope ofthis invention is provided with means at one end of its casing toquickly adjust the objective lens relatively to the other lenses, and atthe other end with means to axially. adjust the internally located sightreintively to the other lenses and particularly to the ocular lens tosuit the focal characteristics of the eye of the user and particularlyto accommodate emmetropic, myopic and hypermetropic eyes.

Means is also provided to internally and delicatesuit fractions or partsof such increases or decreases. v

A telescope constructed as above described may be rigidly secured to thefirearm thus obviating any variations in sighting due to vibration, asno relative movement is possible between the the arm and the telescope.The windage and elevation adjustments are more positive and less liableto vary, being made internally, and as only a relatively light weightpart, the ring 41, need be moved. These adjustments are also moreaccurate in that the entire telescope is not movedrelatively to thefirearm but is always maintained parallel to the bore of the barrel, andthat the sight holding ring is alwaysmoved in a plane at right angles tothe axis 6! the telescope and never tilted. Due to the provision ofmeans whereby'the telescope may be rigidly secured to the barrel and therequired adjustments are made internally, no accidental interference orchange in such adjustments is possible, for instance} as by inadvertentengagement of the telescope with outside objects, by rough handling, orby vibrations caused by excessive wind.

It will be understood that the invention may be embodied in otherspecific forms without departing from the spirit or'essential attributesthereof, and it is therefore desired that the present embodiments beconsidered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and itwill be further understood that each and every novel feature andcombination present in or possessed by the means herein disclosed formsa part of the invention included in this application.

What is claimed as new and for which it is desired to secure LettersPatent, is:

1. In a telescope adapted for use as a sight for a firearm, a casinghaving an objective lens adjacent one of its ends and an ocular lensadjacent its other end, a sight holding ring having parallel endsdisposed in said casing intermediate said lenses, parallel guides withinsaid casing, one in abutment with each end of said ring, a bracket,connected to said guides, slidably mounted on the outside of said casingand movable axially relatively thereto to adjust said ring and guidesaxially of said casing, means carried by said bracket to adjust saidring transversely of said casing under control of said guides, andresilient means to urge said ring against said transversely adjustingmeans. r

2. In a telescope sight, a tubular casing, spaced apart sleeves axiallyslidable in said casing, means to fixedly secure said sleeves to saidcasing, a ring disposed in said casing between and guided by theopposing ends of said sleeves, and means engaging said ring to adjust ittransversely of said casing while it is being guided by said sleeves.

3. In a telescope sight, a tubular casing, spaced apart sleeves in saidcasing, a ring disposed in said casing between and engaged by theopposing ends of said sleeves, a bracket mounted on said casing formovement axially thereof, means to fixedly connect each sleeve to saidbracket, and means carried by said bracket to engage said ring to adjustit transversely of said casing whileguided by said sleeves.

4. In a telescope sight, a tubular casing, spaced apart sleeves in saidcasing, a ring disposed in said casing between and engaged and guidedfor movement transversely of said casing by the opposing ends of saidsleeves, a bracket mounted on said casing for sliding movement axiallythereof, means passing through elongated slots formed in said casing toconnect each sleeve with said bracket and to'releasably connect eachsleeve to the casing for movement with said bracket, and means carriedby said bracket and passing through an elongated slot in said casing toenage said ring to adjust it transversely oi'said casing.

5. In a telescope sight, a tubular casing, spaced apart sleeves in saidcasing, a ring disposed in said casing between and engaged and guidedfor movement transversely of said casing by the opposing ends of saidsleeves, a first member extending through said casing into engagementwith said ring and adapted to move it transversely of said casing, aspring in engagement with said ring diametrically opposite said firstmember, a second member extending through said casing at substantiallyright angles to said first member into engagement with said ring to moveit transversely oi said casing, and a spring in engagement with saidring diametrically opposite said second member.

6. In a telescope sight, a tubular casing, spaced apart sleeves in saidcasing, a ring disposed in said casing between and engaged and guidedior movement transversely oi said casing by the opposing tated to adjustsaid ring transversely of said.

casing.

7. In a telescope as claimed in claim 6 and wherein indicating marks areprovided on said inverted cup-shaped member, and a pointed extension isprovided on said cross bar to co-operate with said marks to visuallyindicate the amount oi rotation of said stud relatively to said bar.

8. In .a telescope as claimed in claim 6 and wherein a. ring isrotatively mounted on said inverted cup-shaped member, means to-clampsaid ring to said cup-shaped member, indicating marks on said ring, anda pointed extension on said cross bar to co-operate with said indicatingmarks to visually indicate the amount of rotation of said studrelatively to said bar. I

9. In a telescope sight, a tubular casing, and a sighting means holdingand adjusting device mounted for sliding movement axially in respect tosaid casing, said device including connected spaced apart members insaid casing and having opposing end surfaces extending transversely ofsaidcasing, a ring in said casing between, and adapted to be guided by,the opposing end surfaces of said members. means extending through saidcasing to adjust said ring transversely of said casing while it isguided by said members, and means to fixedly secure said device to saidcasing in its axially adjusted position in respect tosaid c in HAROLD F.MOSSBERG.

